It’s always fun to learn about a new audio manufacturer, especially one that manages to impress you with the performance and quality of its products.  I first learned about Audio Solutions from Canadian high-end audio retailer Sonic Artistry who offered to lend me a pair of the company’s Figaro M speakers at the end of 2018.  Founded by speaker engineer Gediminas Gaidelis, Audio Solutions is a high-end loudspeaker manufacturer based in Vilnius, Lithuania.  A lot of very interesting hi READ MORE

When I was 15, my older brother gave me my first real stereo. I loved it.  It was amazing to me.  The amp was an Akai integrated, a  brushed aluminum beauty with a lot of aluminum knobs and dials. It had very cool  VU meters and a walnut case.  The turntable was equally beautiful, also Japanese.  It was a Kenwood with a granite-like finish and a very deliberate looking tonearm.  The speakers were made by Realistic, and like most speakers of that time, housed in sealed particle board b READ MORE

Since 1979, Focal has been designing and manufacturing high-fidelity audio products.  The French company, based in Saint-Étienne, produces a full slew of products, including home loudspeakers, car speaker audio, studio monitors and over the last few years, headphones.  All Focal products are designed in-house, in France, while their high-end products are manufactured there, as well.  Take a look at any Focal high-end product and you will find the three words…‘Made In France’ proudl READ MORE